Weird Al is a 50-1 chance with some bookmakers and the horse has had his problems in recent years. But he has managed to win over fifty percent of his starts including a Grade Two novice chase when trained by Ian Williams and a Charlie Hall since being switched to Donald McCain.
He took on the top three mile chasers in November 2011 when finishing ten lengths back in third to Kauto Star and Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
With nine chase starts returning five wins and a third place, Weird Al is an incredibly successful horse who has netted connections over £130K in his career.
Primarily a Cheltenham horse – has has run there four times, he has never run at Aintree and this will be his first shot at the Grand National.
He likes the ground anywhere from Good to Soft so a little bit of rain should really help him out on the day. McCain has only been trained Weird Al for a few months having gotten him in October 2011 from Ian Williams yard.
Weird Al is now on a handicap mark of 164 and that rating would almost certainly find him very near the head of the weights in a Grand National showdown. Weird Al was well beat in the 2010 Hennessy when he ran off a mark of 156 but has undoubtedly improved for McCain.
However, he would face a tough task if he was given the go ahead to race in the National from a mark in the mid 160s.
The horse ran a poor race in the recent Cheltenham Gold Cup, despite being fancied by many. During the festival’s marquee contest, he bled from the nose and he seems to be a fragile character.
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